Duplicating authentication information between connections

ABSTRACT

A method includes authenticating, by a computing device, a first connection between one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a first user computing device. The method further includes determining, by the computing device, to add a second connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a second user computing device. The method further includes generating, by the computing device, a secret code and sending the secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection. The method further includes sending, by the one or more storage units, responses to the secret code to the computing device via the second connection. The method further includes authenticating, by the computing device, the second connection based on the authentication of the first connection and the responses from the one or more storage units.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 15/255,748, entitled “SLICE REBUILDING IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Sep. 2, 2016, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 14/844,328, entitled “SECURELY STORING DATA IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Sep. 3, 2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,747,160 on Aug. 29, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/944,277, entitled “SECURELY STORING DATA IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK,” filed Jul. 17, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,154,298 on Oct. 6, 2015, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/696,018, entitled “AUTHORIZING ACCESS TO A DISTRIBUTED STORAGE AND TASK NETWORK,” filed Aug. 31, 2012, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer networks and more particularly to dispersing error encoded data.

Description of Related Art

Computing devices are known to communicate data, process data, and/or store data. Such computing devices range from wireless smart phones, laptops, tablets, personal computers (PC), work stations, and video game devices, to data centers that support millions of web searches, stock trades, or on-line purchases every day. In general, a computing device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory system, user input/output interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, and an interconnecting bus structure.

As is further known, a computer may effectively extend its CPU by using “cloud computing” to perform one or more computing functions (e.g., a service, an application, an algorithm, an arithmetic logic function, etc.) on behalf of the computer. Further, for large services, applications, and/or functions, cloud computing may be performed by multiple cloud computing resources in a distributed manner to improve the response time for completion of the service, application, and/or function. For example, Hadoop is an open source software framework that supports distributed applications enabling application execution by thousands of computers.

In addition to cloud computing, a computer may use “cloud storage” as part of its memory system. As is known, cloud storage enables a user, via its computer, to store files, applications, etc. on an Internet storage system. The Internet storage system may include a RAID (redundant array of independent disks) system and/or a dispersed storage system that uses an error correction scheme to encode data for storage.

It is further known that authenticating connections throughout a dispersed storage system expends time and resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a specific example of an error encoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a slice name of an encoded data slice (EDS) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of data in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a generic example of an error decoding function in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an example of authenticating a connection within a dispersed storage network (DSN) in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a logic diagram of an example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a dispersed, or distributed, storage network (DSN) 10 that includes a plurality of computing devices 12-16, a managing unit 18, an integrity processing unit 20, and a DSN memory 22. The components of the DSN 10 are coupled to a network 24, which may include one or more wireless and/or wire lined communication systems; one or more non-public intranet systems and/or public internet systems; and/or one or more local area networks (LAN) and/or wide area networks (WAN).

The DSN memory 22 includes a plurality of storage units 36 that may be located at geographically different sites (e.g., one in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, etc.), at a common site, or a combination thereof. For example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, each storage unit is located at a different site. As another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, all eight storage units are located at the same site. As yet another example, if the DSN memory 22 includes eight storage units 36, a first pair of storage units are at a first common site, a second pair of storage units are at a second common site, a third pair of storage units are at a third common site, and a fourth pair of storage units are at a fourth common site. Note that a DSN memory 22 may include more or less than eight storage units 36. Further note that each storage unit 36 includes a computing core (as shown in FIG. 2, or components thereof) and a plurality of memory devices for storing dispersed error encoded data.

Each of the computing devices 12-16, the managing unit 18, and the integrity processing unit 20 include a computing core 26, which includes network interfaces 30-33. Computing devices 12-16 may each be a portable computing device and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computing device may be a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone, a smart phone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital video player, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a video game controller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computing core. A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), a computer server, a cable set-top box, a satellite receiver, a television set, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment, a video game console, and/or any type of home or office computing equipment. Note that each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 may be separate computing devices, may be a common computing device, and/or may be integrated into one or more of the computing devices 12-16 and/or into one or more of the storage units 36.

Each interface 30, 32, and 33 includes software and hardware to support one or more communication links via the network 24 indirectly and/or directly. For example, interface 30 supports a communication link (e.g., wired, wireless, direct, via a LAN, via the network 24, etc.) between computing devices 14 and 16. As another example, interface 32 supports communication links (e.g., a wired connection, a wireless connection, a LAN connection, and/or any other type of connection to/from the network 24) between computing devices 12 & 16 and the DSN memory 22. As yet another example, interface 33 supports a communication link for each of the managing unit 18 and the integrity processing unit 20 to the network 24.

Computing devices 12 and 16 include a dispersed storage (DS) client module 34, which enables the computing device to dispersed storage error encode and decode data as subsequently described with reference to one or more of FIGS. 3-8. In this example embodiment, computing device 16 functions as a dispersed storage processing agent for computing device 14. In this role, computing device 16 dispersed storage error encodes and decodes data on behalf of computing device 14. With the use of dispersed storage error encoding and decoding, the DSN 10 is tolerant of a significant number of storage unit failures (the number of failures is based on parameters of the dispersed storage error encoding function) without loss of data and without the need for a redundant or backup copies of the data. Further, the DSN 10 stores data for an indefinite period of time without data loss and in a secure manner (e.g., the system is very resistant to unauthorized attempts at accessing the data).

In operation, the managing unit 18 performs DS management services. For example, the managing unit 18 establishes distributed data storage parameters (e.g., vault creation, distributed storage parameters, security parameters, billing information, user profile information, etc.) for computing devices 12-14 individually or as part of a group of user devices. As a specific example, the managing unit 18 coordinates creation of a vault (e.g., a virtual memory block associated with a portion of an overall namespace of the DSN) within the DSTN memory 22 for a user device, a group of devices, or for public access and establishes per vault dispersed storage (DS) error encoding parameters for a vault. The managing unit 18 facilitates storage of DS error encoding parameters for each vault by updating registry information of the DSN 10, where the registry information may be stored in the DSN memory 22, a computing device 12-16, the managing unit 18, and/or the integrity processing unit 20.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates and stores user profile information (e.g., an access control list (ACL)) in local memory and/or within memory of the DSN memory 22. The user profile information includes authentication information, permissions, and/or the security parameters. The security parameters may include encryption/decryption scheme, one or more encryption keys, key generation scheme, and/or data encoding/decoding scheme.

The DSN managing unit 18 creates billing information for a particular user, a user group, a vault access, public vault access, etc. For instance, the DSTN managing unit 18 tracks the number of times a user accesses a non-public vault and/or public vaults, which can be used to generate a per-access billing information. In another instance, the DSTN managing unit 18 tracks the amount of data stored and/or retrieved by a user device and/or a user group, which can be used to generate a per-data-amount billing information.

As another example, the managing unit 18 performs network operations, network administration, and/or network maintenance. Network operations includes authenticating user data allocation requests (e.g., read and/or write requests), managing creation of vaults, establishing authentication credentials for user devices, adding/deleting components (e.g., user devices, storage units, and/or computing devices with a DS client module 34) to/from the DSN 10, and/or establishing authentication credentials for the storage units 36. Network administration includes monitoring devices and/or units for failures, maintaining vault information, determining device and/or unit activation status, determining device and/or unit loading, and/or determining any other system level operation that affects the performance level of the DSN 10. Network maintenance includes facilitating replacing, upgrading, repairing, and/or expanding a device and/or unit of the DSN 10.

The integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding of ‘bad’ or missing encoded data slices. At a high level, the integrity processing unit 20 performs rebuilding by periodically attempting to retrieve/list encoded data slices, and/or slice names of the encoded data slices, from the DSN memory 22. For retrieved encoded slices, they are checked for errors due to data corruption, outdated version, etc. If a slice includes an error, it is flagged as a ‘bad’ slice. For encoded data slices that were not received and/or not listed, they are flagged as missing slices. Bad and/or missing slices are subsequently rebuilt using other retrieved encoded data slices that are deemed to be good slices to produce rebuilt slices. The rebuilt slices are stored in the DSTN memory 22.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a computing core 26 that includes a processing module 50, a memory controller 52, main memory 54, a video graphics processing unit 55, an input/output (IO) controller 56, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface 58, an 10 interface module 60, at least one 10 device interface module 62, a read only memory (ROM) basic input output system (BIOS) 64, and one or more memory interface modules. The one or more memory interface module(s) includes one or more of a universal serial bus (USB) interface module 66, a host bus adapter (HBA) interface module 68, a network interface module 70, a flash interface module 72, a hard drive interface module 74, and a DSN interface module 76.

The DSN interface module 76 functions to mimic a conventional operating system (OS) file system interface (e.g., network file system (NFS), flash file system (FFS), disk file system (DFS), file transfer protocol (FTP), web-based distributed authoring and versioning (WebDAV), etc.) and/or a block memory interface (e.g., small computer system interface (SCSI), internet small computer system interface (iSCSI), etc.). The DSN interface module 76 and/or the network interface module 70 may function as one or more of the interface 30-33 of FIG. 1. Note that the 10 device interface module 62 and/or the memory interface modules 66-76 may be collectively or individually referred to as IO ports.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error encoding of data. When a computing device 12 or 16 has data to store it disperse storage error encodes the data in accordance with a dispersed storage error encoding process based on dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters include an encoding function (e.g., information dispersal algorithm, Reed-Solomon, Cauchy Reed-Solomon, systematic encoding, non-systematic encoding, on-line codes, etc.), a data segmenting protocol (e.g., data segment size, fixed, variable, etc.), and per data segment encoding values. The per data segment encoding values include a total, or pillar width, number (T) of encoded data slices per encoding of a data segment i.e., in a set of encoded data slices); a decode threshold number (D) of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices that are needed to recover the data segment; a read threshold number (R) of encoded data slices to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set to be read from storage for decoding of the data segment; and/or a write threshold number (W) to indicate a number of encoded data slices per set that must be accurately stored before the encoded data segment is deemed to have been properly stored. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters may further include slicing information (e.g., the number of encoded data slices that will be created for each data segment) and/or slice security information (e.g., per encoded data slice encryption, compression, integrity checksum, etc.).

In the present example, Cauchy Reed-Solomon has been selected as the encoding function (a generic example is shown in FIG. 4 and a specific example is shown in FIG. 5); the data segmenting protocol is to divide the data object into fixed sized data segments; and the per data segment encoding values include: a pillar width of 5, a decode threshold of 3, a read threshold of 4, and a write threshold of 4. In accordance with the data segmenting protocol, the computing device 12 or 16 divides the data (e.g., a file (e.g., text, video, audio, etc.), a data object, or other data arrangement) into a plurality of fixed sized data segments (e.g., 1 through Y of a fixed size in range of Kilo-bytes to Tera-bytes or more). The number of data segments created is dependent of the size of the data and the data segmenting protocol.

The computing device 12 or 16 then disperse storage error encodes a data segment using the selected encoding function (e.g., Cauchy Reed-Solomon) to produce a set of encoded data slices. FIG. 4 illustrates a generic Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding function, which includes an encoding matrix (EM), a data matrix (DM), and a coded matrix (CM). The size of the encoding matrix (EM) is dependent on the pillar width number (T) and the decode threshold number (D) of selected per data segment encoding values. To produce the data matrix (DM), the data segment is divided into a plurality of data blocks and the data blocks are arranged into D number of rows with Z data blocks per row. Note that Z is a function of the number of data blocks created from the data segment and the decode threshold number (D). The coded matrix is produced by matrix multiplying the data matrix by the encoding matrix.

FIG. 5 illustrates a specific example of Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding with a pillar number (T) of five and decode threshold number of three. In this example, a first data segment is divided into twelve data blocks (D1-D12). The coded matrix includes five rows of coded data blocks, where the first row of X11-X14 corresponds to a first encoded data slice (EDS 1_1), the second row of X21-X24 corresponds to a second encoded data slice (EDS 2_1), the third row of X31-X34 corresponds to a third encoded data slice (EDS 3_1), the fourth row of X41-X44 corresponds to a fourth encoded data slice (EDS 4_1), and the fifth row of X51-X54 corresponds to a fifth encoded data slice (EDS 5_1). Note that the second number of the EDS designation corresponds to the data segment number.

Returning to the discussion of FIG. 3, the computing device also creates a slice name (SN) for each encoded data slice (EDS) in the set of encoded data slices. A typical format for a slice name 60 is shown in FIG. 6. As shown, the slice name (SN) 60 includes a pillar number of the encoded data slice (e.g., one of 1-T), a data segment number (e.g., one of 1-Y), a vault identifier (ID), a data object identifier (ID), and may further include revision level information of the encoded data slices. The slice name functions as, at least part of, a DSN address for the encoded data slice for storage and retrieval from the DSN memory 22.

As a result of encoding, the computing device 12 or 16 produces a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, which are provided with their respective slice names to the storage units for storage. As shown, the first set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_1 through EDS 5_1 and the first set of slice names includes SN 1_1 through SN 5_1 and the last set of encoded data slices includes EDS 1_Y through EDS 5_Y and the last set of slice names includes SN 1_Y through SN 5_Y.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an example of dispersed storage error decoding of a data object that was dispersed storage error encoded and stored in the example of FIG. 4. In this example, the computing device 12 or 16 retrieves from the storage units at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices per data segment. As a specific example, the computing device retrieves a read threshold number of encoded data slices.

To recover a data segment from a decode threshold number of encoded data slices, the computing device uses a decoding function as shown in FIG. 8. As shown, the decoding function is essentially an inverse of the encoding function of FIG. 4. The coded matrix includes a decode threshold number of rows (e.g., three in this example) and the decoding matrix in an inversion of the encoding matrix that includes the corresponding rows of the coded matrix. For example, if the coded matrix includes rows 1, 2, and 4, the encoding matrix is reduced to rows 1, 2, and 4, and then inverted to produce the decoding matrix.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an example of authenticating a connection within a dispersed storage network (DSN). FIG. 9 includes user computing device 1, DS client module 34 (e.g., a separate DS client module, or a DS client module integrated into a computing device of the DSN), and one or more storage units of a set of storage units 36 (SUs 1-5). SUs 1-5 include at least a threshold number of storage units. The threshold number is a read threshold number, a write threshold number, a decode threshold number, or a pillar width threshold number. DS module 34 is operable to authenticate a connection (e.g., connection 1) between SUs 1-5 and at least one of user computing device 1 and DS client module 34. To authenticate connection 1, a connection between user computing device 1 and the DS client module 34 (e.g., first part of connection 1) is authenticated. To authenticate the first part of connection 1, the DS client module 34 obtains a public key (e.g., a public key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) associated with user computing device 1. For example, DS client module 34 obtains public key 1_1.

The DS client module 34 encrypts a message regarding establishing a connection between user computing device 1 using public key 1_1. The DS client module 34 sends the encrypted message (e.g., encrypted message 1_1) to user computing device 1. User computing device 1 decrypts encrypted message 1_1 using private key 1_1 (e.g., a private key of the public key infrastructure (PKI)) and sends response 1_1 to the DS client module 34. The DS client module 34 authenticates the first part of connection 1 when response 1_1 includes an anticipated message reply. For example, the anticipated message reply includes information acknowledging the correct contents of the message.

To continue with the authentication of connection 1, a connection between SUs 1-5 and DS client module 34 (e.g., second part of connection 1) is authenticated. To authenticate the second part of connection 1, the DS client module 34 obtains a public key for each storage unit of SUs 1-5 (e.g., public keys 2-6). The DS client module 34 encrypts messages using each of public keys 2-6 where each message is regarding establishing the second part of the first connection between a particular storage unit of SUs 1-5 and DS client module 34. For example, DS client module 34 encrypts a message regarding establishing a connection between SU 1 and DS client module 34 using public key 2 to create encrypted message 2. This process continues for each of SUs 2-5 to produce encrypted messages 3-6. The DS client module 34 sends each encrypted message 2-6 to each corresponding storage unit of SUs 1-5.

SUs 1-5 receive encrypted messages 2-6 and decrypt encrypted messages 2-6 using a corresponding private key (e.g., a private key of the public key infrastructure (PKI)). For example, SU 1 decrypts encrypted message 2 using private key 2. In response to the decrypted messages, SUs 1-5 send responses 2-6 to DS client module 34. For example, SU 1 sends response 2 in response to decrypting encrypted message 2, SU 2 sends response 3 in response to decrypting encrypted message 3, SU 3 sends response 4 in response to decrypting encrypted message 4, SU 4 sends response 5 in response to decrypting encrypted message 5, and SU 5 sends response 6 in response to decrypting encrypted message 6. DS client module 34 authenticates the second part of connection 1 when each response of responses 1-6 includes an anticipated message reply.

Alternatively, or additionally, a username and password authentication process is implemented to authenticate the first and second parts of connection 1. Alternatively, or additionally, an authority agent is implemented to authenticate connection 1 as well as individually verify user computing device 1 and the DS client module 34, and verify that user computing device 1 and the DS client module 34 are allowed to communicate.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection. FIG. 10 includes user computing device 1, user computing device 2, DS client module 34 (e.g., a separate DS client module, or a DS client module integrated in a computing device), and one or more storage units of a set of storage units 36 (SUs 1-5). As discussed in FIG. 9, connection 1 is authenticated. The DS client module 34 determines to add a second connection (e.g., connection 2) between SUs 1-5 and at least one of the DS client module 34 and user computing device 2. Instead of repeating the entire process described in FIG. 9, DS client module 34 generates secret code 82.

For example, the DS client module 34 generates secret code 82 using one or more of a Diffie-Hellman approach, random generation, a lookup, and retrieval from memory. As an example of generating the secret code 82 using the Diffie-Hellman approach, the DS client module 34 generates public values p and g, generates a value A based on public values p and g, and generates the secret code to include public values p and g, and A. The public value g is a primitive root for public value p such that for every number a between 1 and (p−1), there is some integer exponent (e) such that ĝe mod p=a. The DS client module 34 generates value A based on an expression of: A=g^(a) mod p, where value a is a private value associated with the DS client module 34 (e.g., retrieved from memory, generated random number, retrieved from a lookup).

The DS client module 34 sends secret code 82 to SUs 1-5 via connection 1. SUs 1-5 receive secret code 82 and send responses to the secret code 84 via connection 2. The responses to the secret code 84 include one or more of the secret code 82 and information used to establish the secret code 82. For example, when the secret code 82 is generated using the Diffie-Hellman approach, SUs 1-5 extract public values p and g and value A from the secret code 82. SUs 1-5 generate a private value b (e.g., retrieved from memory, generated random number, retrieved from a lookup). SUs 1-5 generate a value B in accordance with an expression of B=g^(b) mod p. SUs 1-5 generate the responses to the secret code 84 to include the value B and output the responses to the secret code 84 to the DS client module 34.

The DS client module 34 interprets the responses to the secret code 84 from SUs 1-5 to determine whether the responses to the secret code 84 include an anticipated secret code reply. When the responses 84 include the anticipated secret code reply, the DS client module 34 relies on the authentication of connection 1 to authenticate connection 2 between DS client module 34 and SUs 1-5. For example, when the Diffie-Hellman approach is used, the value B is the anticipated secret code reply where the secret code=B^(a) mod p. If the value B is correct, the DS client module 34 relies on the authentication of connection 1 to authenticate connection 2 between the DS client module 34 and SUs 1-5 (e.g., the second part of connection 2).

To authenticate the first part of connection 2 (e.g., the connection between user computing device 2 and DS client module 34), the DS client module 34 obtains a public key (e.g., a public key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) associated with user computing device 2 (e.g., public key 2_1). The DS client module 34 encrypts a message (e.g., encrypted message 2_1) regarding establishing the first part of connection 2 between user computing device 2 and the DS client module 34 using public key 2_1. DS client module 34 sends encrypted message 2_1 to user computing device 2. User computing device 2 decrypts encrypted message 2_1 using private key 2_1 (e.g., a private key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) and sends response 2_1 to the message to the DS client module 34. The DS client module 34 authenticates the first part of connection 2 when response 2_1 to the message includes an anticipated message reply.

Alternatively, or additionally, a username and password authentication process is implemented to authenticate the first part of connection 2. Alternatively, or additionally, an authority agent is implemented to authenticate connection 2 as well as individually verify user computing device 2 and the DS client module 34, and verify that user computing device 2 and the DS client module 34 are allowed to communicate.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection. FIG. 11 includes user computing device 1, user computing device 2, user computing device 3, DS client module 34 (e.g., a separate DS client module, or a DS client module included in a computing device), and one or more storage units of a set of storage units 36 (SUs 1-5). As discussed in FIG. 9, connection 1 is authenticated and as discussed in FIG. 10, connection 2 is authenticated based on connection 1's authentication. The DS client module 34 determines to add a third connection (e.g., connection 3) between SUs 1-5 and at least one of the DS client module 34 and user computing device 3.

DS client module 34 generates a secret code 82 (e.g., the same secret code used to authenticate connection 2 or a different secret code). For example, the DS client module 34 generates the secret code 82 using one or more of a Diffie-Hellman approach, random generation, a lookup, and retrieval from memory. The DS client module 34 sends the secret code 82 to SUs 1-5 via connections 1 or 2. Here, the DS client module 34 sends the secret code 82 to SUs 1-5 via connection 2. SUs 1-5 receive the secret code and send responses to the secret code 84 via connection 3. The responses to the secret code 84 include one or more of the secret code 82 and information used to establish the secret code 82.

The DS client module 34 interprets the responses 84 from SUs 1-5 to determine whether the responses 84 include an anticipated secret code reply. When the responses 84 include the anticipated secret code reply, the DS client module 34 relies on the authentication of connection 2 to authenticate connection 3 between the DS client module 34 and SUs 1-5.

To authenticate the first part of connection 3 (e.g., the connection between user computing device 3 and DS client module 34), DS client module 34 obtains a public key (e.g., a public key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) associated with user computing device 3 (e.g., public key 3_1). The DS client module 34 encrypts a message (e.g., encrypted message 3_1) regarding establishing the first part of connection 3 between user computing device 3 and the DS client module 34 using public key 3_1. The DS client module 34 sends encrypted message 3_1 to user computing device 3. User computing device 3 decrypts encrypted message 3_1 using private key 3_1 (e.g., a private key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) and sends response 3_1 to the message to the DS client module 34. The DS client module 34 authenticates the first part of connection 3 when response 3_1 to the message includes an anticipated message reply.

Alternatively, or in additionally, a username and password authentication process is implemented to authenticate the first part of connection 3. Alternatively, or additionally, an authority agent is implemented to authenticate connection 3 as well as individually verify user computing device 1 and the DS client module 34, and verify that user computing device 3 and the DS client module 34 are allowed to communicate.

FIG. 12 is a logic diagram of an example of using an authenticated connection to verify a new connection. The method begins with step 86 where a computing device (e.g. a DS client module 34) of a dispersed storage network (DSN) authenticates a first connection between one or more storage units (SUs) of a set of storage units of the DSN and at least one of the computing device and a first user computing device of the DSN.

The one or more storage units include at least a threshold number of storage units, where the threshold number is a read threshold number, a write threshold number, a decode threshold number, or a pillar width threshold number. To authenticate the first connection between first user computing device and the one or more storage units, a first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device is authenticated.

To authenticate the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device, the computing device obtains a public key (e.g., a public key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) associated with the first user computing device. The computing device encrypts a message regarding establishing the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device using the public key. The computing device sends the encrypted message to the first user computing device. The first user computing device decrypts the encrypted message using a private key (e.g., a private key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) and sends a response to the message to the computing device. The computing device authenticates the first part of the first connection with the first computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.

To authenticate a second part of the first connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units, the computing device obtains one or more public keys associated with the one or more storage units where each public key of the one or more public keys is associated with a particular storage unit of the one or more storage units. The computing device encrypts each of one or more messages using a particular public key of the one or more public keys where each of the one or more messages is regarding establishing the second part of the first connection between the particular storage unit and the computing device. The computing device sends each of the one or more encrypted messages to each corresponding storage unit of the one or more storage units. Each storage unit of the one or more storage units decrypts a corresponding encrypted message using a corresponding private key. The one or more storage units send one or more responses to the computing device. The computing device authenticates the second part of the first connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units when each response of the one or more responses include an anticipated message reply.

Alternatively, or additionally, a username and password authentication process is implemented to authenticate the first and/or second parts of the first connection. Alternatively, or additionally, an authority agent may be implemented to authenticate the first connection as well as individually verify the first user computing device and the computing device, and verify that first user computing device and the computing device are allowed to communicate.

The method continues with step 88 where the computing device determines to add a second connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a second user computing device. The method continues with step 90 where the computing device generates a secret code. For example, the computing device generates the secret code using one or more of a Diffie-Hellman approach, random generation, a lookup, and retrieval from memory. As an example of generating the secret code using the Diffie-Hellman approach, the computing device generates public values p and g, generates a value A based on public values p and g, and generates the secret code to include public values p and g, and A. The public value g is a primitive root for public value p such that for every number a between 1 and (p−1), there is some integer exponent (e) such that ĝe mod p=a. The computing device generates value A based on an expression of: A=g^(a) mod p, where value a is a private value associated with the DS client module 34 (e.g., retrieved from memory, generated random number, retrieved from a lookup).

The method continues with step 92 where the computing device sends the secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection. The method continues with step 94 where the one or more storage units send responses to the secret code to the computing device via the second connection. The responses to the secret code include one or more of the secret code and information used to establish the secret code. For example, when the secret code is generated using the Diffie-Hellman approach, the one or more storage units receive the secret code and extract public values p and g and value A. The one or more storage units generate a private value b (e.g., retrieved from memory, generated random number, retrieved from a lookup). The one or more storage units generate a value B in accordance with an expression of B=g^(b) mod p. The one or more storage units generate the responses to the secret code to include the value B and output the responses to secret code to the computing device.

The method continues with step 96 where the computing device authenticates the second connection based on the authentication of the first connection and the responses from the one or more storage units. For example, the computing device interprets the responses from the one or more storage units to determine whether the responses include an anticipated secret code reply. When the responses include the anticipated secret code reply, the computing device relies on the authentication of first connection to authenticate the second connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units. For example, when the Diffie-Hellman approach is used, the value B is the anticipated secret code reply where the secret code=W mod p. If the value B is correct, the computing device relies on the authentication of the first connection to authenticate the second connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units.

To authenticate a first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device, the computing device obtains a public key (e.g., a public key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) associated with the second user computing device. The computing device encrypts a message regarding establishing the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device using the public key and sends the encrypted message to the second user computing device. The second user computing device decrypts the encrypted message using a private key (e.g., a private key of a public key infrastructure (PKI)) and sends a response to the message to the computing device. The computing device authenticates the first part of the second connection between the second computing device and the computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.

Alternatively, or additionally, a username and password authentication process is implemented to authenticate the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device. Alternatively, or additionally, an authority agent may be implemented to authenticate the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device as well as individually verify the second user computing device and the computing device, and verify that second user computing device and the computing device are allowed to communicate.

The computing device may further determine to add a third connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a third user computing device. The computing device generates a second secret code (e.g., the same secret code used to authenticate the second connection or a new secret code). The computing device sends the second secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection or the second connection. The one or more storage units send responses to the second secret code to the computing device via the third connection. The computing device authenticates the third connection based on the authentication of the first connection or the second connection (i.e., authentication of the connection used to send the secret code) and the responses to the second secret code from the one or more storage units.

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream, stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been used interchangeably to describe digital information whose content corresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video, speech, audio, etc. any of which may generally be referred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately” provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operably coupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling between items and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirect coupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operable to”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an item includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., to perform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and may further include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may still further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes direct and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item being embedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As may be used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to provide the desired relationship.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processing circuit”, “processor”, and/or “processing unit” may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit may be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing via indirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network). Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further note that, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more of the Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included in an article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits, processors executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue” indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used in conjunction with other routines. In this context, “start” indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be preceded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue” indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multiple times and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specifically shown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering of steps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that the principles of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or more aspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or more examples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article of manufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more of the aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figure to figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or different reference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. may be the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or different ones.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/or between elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein may be analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particular architectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise be implemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, direct connectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between other elements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of the embodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device such as a processor or other processing device or other hardware that may include or operate in association with a memory that stores operational instructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunction with software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may contain one or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes one or more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memory device, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within a memory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. The memory device may be in a form a solid state memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive, server memory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium for storing digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of the one or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. The present disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosed herein and expressly incorporates these other combinations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprises: authenticating, by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), a first connection between one or more storage units of a set of storage units of the DSN and at least one of the computing device and a first user computing device of the DSN; determining, by the computing device, to add a second connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a second user computing device; generating, by the computing device, a secret code; sending, by the computing device, the secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection; sending, by the one or more storage units, responses to the secret code to the computing device via the second connection; and authenticating, by the computing device, the second connection based on the authentication of the first connection and the responses from the one or more storage units.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating the first connection comprises: authenticating a first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device by: obtaining, by the computing device, a public key associated with the first user computing device; encrypting, by the computing device, a message using the public key, wherein the message is regarding establishing the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device; sending, by the computing device, the encrypted message to the first user computing device; decrypting, by the first user computing device, the encrypted message using a private key; sending, by the first user computing device, a response to the message to the computing device; and authenticating, by the computing device, the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating the first connection comprises: authenticating a second part of the first connection between the one or more storage units and the computing device by: obtaining, by the computing device, one or more public keys associated with the one or more storage units, wherein each public key of the one or more public keys is associated with a particular storage unit of the one or more storage units; encrypting, by the computing device, each of one or more messages using a particular public key of the one or more public keys, wherein each of the one or more messages is regarding establishing the second part of the first connection between the particular storage unit of the one or more storage units and the computing device; sending, by the computing device, each of the one or more encrypted messages to each corresponding storage unit of the one or more storage units; decrypting, by each storage unit of the one or more storage units, a corresponding encrypted message of the one or more encrypted messages using a corresponding private key; sending, by the one or more storage units, one or more responses to the computing device; and authenticating, by the computing device, the second part of the first connection between the one or more storage units and the computing device when each response of the one or more responses includes an anticipated message reply.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the responses to the secret code comprises one or more of: the secret code; and information used to establish the secret code.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating the second connection further comprises: interpreting, by the computing device, the responses from the one or more storage units to determine whether the responses include an anticipated secret code reply; and when the responses include the anticipated secret code reply, relying, by the computing device, on the authentication of the first connection to authenticate the second connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating the second connection comprises: authenticating a first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device by: obtaining, by the computing device, a public key associated with the second user computing device; encrypting, by the computing device, a message using the public key, wherein the message is regarding establishing the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device; sending, by the computing device, the encrypted message to the second user computing device; decrypting, by the second user computing device, the encrypted message using a private key; sending, by the second user computing device, a response to the message to the computing device; and authenticating, by the computing device, the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprises: determining, by the computing device, to add a third connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a third user computing device; generating, by the computing device, a second secret code; sending, by the computing device, the second secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection or the second connection; sending, by the one or more storage units, responses to the second secret code to the computing device via the third connection; and authenticating, by the computing device, the third connection based on the authentication of the first connection or the second connection and the responses to the second secret code from the one or more storage units.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or one or more storage units includes at least a threshold number of storage units, wherein the threshold number is one of a read threshold number, a write threshold number, a decode threshold number, and a pillar width threshold number.
 9. A computer readable memory comprises: a first memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the computing device to: authenticate a first connection between one or more storage units of a set of storage units of the DSN and at least one of the computing device and a first user computing device of the DSN; determine to add a second connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a second user computing device; generate a secret code; send the secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection; and a second memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more storage units, causes the one or more storage units to: send responses to the secret code to the computing device via the second connection; and a third memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to: authenticate the second connection based on the authentication of the first connection and the responses from the one or more storage units.
 10. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the first memory further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to authenticate the first connection by authenticating a first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device by: obtaining a public key associated with the first user computing device; encrypting a message using the public key, wherein the message is regarding establishing the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device; sending the encrypted message to the first user computing device; receiving a response to the message from the first user computing device, wherein the first user computing device decrypted the encrypted message using a private key; and authenticating the first part of the first connection between the first user computing device and the computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.
 11. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the first memory further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to authenticate the first connection by authenticating a second part of the first connection between the one or more storage units and the computing device by: obtaining one or more public keys associated with the one or more storage units, wherein each public key of the one or more public keys is associated with a particular storage unit of the one or more storage units; encrypting each of one or more messages using a particular public key of the one or more public keys, wherein each of the one or more messages is regarding establishing the second part of the first connection between the particular storage unit of the one or more storage units and the computing device; sending each of the one or more encrypted messages to each corresponding storage unit of the one or more storage units; receiving one or more responses to the one or more messages from the one or more storage units, wherein each storage unit of the one or more storage units decrypted a corresponding encrypted message of the one or more encrypted messages with a corresponding private key; and authenticating the second part of the first connection between the one or more storage units and the computing device when each response of the one or more responses includes an anticipated message reply.
 12. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the responses to the secret code comprises one or more of: the secret code; and information used to establish the secret code.
 13. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the third memory further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to authenticate the second connection by: interpreting the responses from the one or more storage units to determine whether the responses include an anticipated secret code reply; and when the responses include the anticipated secret code reply, relying on the authentication of the first connection to authenticate the second connection between the computing device and the one or more storage units.
 14. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the third memory further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to authenticate the second connection by authenticating a first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device by: obtaining a public key associated with the second user computing device; encrypting a message using the public key, wherein the message is regarding establishing the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device; sending the encrypted message to the second user computing device; receiving a response to the message from the second user computing device, wherein the second user computing device decrypted the encrypted message using a private key; and authenticating the first part of the second connection between the second user computing device and the computing device when the response to the message includes an anticipated message reply.
 15. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the first memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to: determine to add a third connection between the one or more storage units and at least one of the computing device and a third user computing device; generate a second secret code; send the second secret code to the one or more storage units via the first connection or the second connection; receive responses to the second secret code from the one or more storage units via the third connection; and authenticate the third connection based on the authentication of the first connection or the second connection and the responses to the second secret code from the one or more storage units.
 16. The computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the one or one or more storage units includes at least a threshold number of storage units, wherein the threshold number is one of a read threshold number, a write threshold number, a decode threshold number, and a pillar width threshold number. 